Waterproof earphone

Abstract

A waterproof earphone is disclosed. The earphone comprises a housing having a first end, a second end, and a housing bore extending there between. The housing is dimensioned for insertion into a human ear canal. The earphone further includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end, and an axial bore extending there between. The sleeve is disposed within the housing. The earphone still further includes a receiver disposed within the sleeve's axial bore. The receiver has a cable extending outwardly past the first sleeve end. An end-cap has first and second ends, and the end-cap first end matingly engages the housing's second end. A waterproof membrane seals the end-cap's second end.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A waterproof earphone comprising: 
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and a housing bore extending there between, the housing dimensioned for insertion into a human ear canal;    a sleeve having a first end and a second end, and an axial bore extending there between, wherein the sleeve is disposed within the housing;    a receiver disposed within the sleeve's axial bore, wherein the receiver has a cable extending outwardly past the first sleeve end;    an end-cap having first and second ends, wherein the end-cap first end matingly engages the housing's second end; and    a waterproof membrane sealing the end-cap's second end.    
     
     
         2 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the housing is resilient.  
     
     
         3 . The earphone of  claim 2  wherein the housing is made of foam rubber.  
     
     
         4 . The earphone of  claim 1  including an o-ring seal between the sleeve and the end-cap.  
     
     
         5 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the first sleeve end is potted about the cable.  
     
     
         6 . The earphone of  claim 5  wherein the first sleeve end is potted about the cable with an epoxy.  
     
     
         7 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the end-cap first end surrounds the sleeve second end.  
     
     
         8 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the first sleeve end is flanged, and the flanged first end engages the housing's first end.  
     
     
         9 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is rigid.  
     
     
         10 . The earphone of  claim 9  wherein the sleeve is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The earphone of  claim 1  including an adhesive securing the end-cap to the housing.  
     
     
         12 . The earphone of  claim 1  wherein the end-cap is rigid.  
     
     
         13 . The earphone of  claim 12  wherein the end-cap is plastic.  
     
     
         14 . A waterproof earphone comprising: 
 a resilient housing having a first end, a second end, and a housing bore extending there between, the housing dimensioned for insertion into a human ear canal;    a rigid sleeve having a first end and a second end, and an axial bore extending there between, wherein the sleeve is disposed within the housing;    a receiver disposed within the sleeve's axial bore, wherein the receiver has a cable extending outwardly past the first sleeve end;    an end-cap having first and second ends, wherein the end-cap first end matingly engages the housing's second end; and    a waterproof membrane sealing the end-cap's second end.    
     
     
         15 . The earphone of  claim 14  wherein the housing is made of foam rubber.  
     
     
         16 . The earphone of  claim 14  including an o-ring seal between the sleeve and the end-cap.  
     
     
         17 . The earphone of  claim 14  wherein the first sleeve end is potted about the cable.  
     
     
         18 . The earphone of  claim 15  wherein the first sleeve end is potted about the cable with an epoxy.  
     
     
         19 . The earphone of  claim 14  wherein the end-cap first end surrounds the sleeve second end.  
     
     
         20 . The earphone of  claim 14  wherein the first sleeve end is flanged and the flanged first end engages the housing's first end.  
     
     
         21 . The earphone of  claim 14  wherein the sleeve is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         22 . The earphone of  claim 14  including an adhesive securing the end-cap to the housing.  
     
     
         23 . A waterproof earphone comprising: 
 a resilient housing having an axial bore, wherein the housing is dimensioned for insertion into a human ear canal;    a rigid sleeve disposed within the housing bore and having a first end and a second end; and    a receiver disposed within the sleeve, the receiver having a cable extending outwardly from the sleeve's first end and a sound port for generating sound to be transmitted outwardly from the sleeve's second end.    
     
     
         24 . The receiver of  claim 23  including an end-cap disposed adjacent the sleeve's second end.  
     
     
         25 . The receiver of  claim 24  wherein the end-cap includes a waterproof membrane.  
     
     
         26 . The receiver of  claim 25  wherein the end-cap surrounds the sleeve's second end.